John Lucus Rochelle

Mr John has been our neighbor since I was born. My dad started working for his father and later him at young age and has always thought more of Mr. John as a father than a neighbor. For the past several months, he has lived with my parents and they have taken care of him and Saturday, February 2nd he passed away with only him and dad there. My heart aches for the pain that my parents feel and also the impact he has had on the life of my children. The girls have spent numerous hours with him playing the keyboard and singing. He was the neighbor that in college when people came home with us, we took them to visit Mr. John. Each Halloween us kids loved to trick or treat at his house because we got full size candy bars and later when I took my kids by on Halloween, the received the same. Today was his service, dad did a remarkable job but I knew on the inside he was grieving . What an example of love and compassion my parents sat by taking care of him. One of the hospice nurses and close friends of the family, Carri Knox, told me today that he was well taken care of because every time they went he was clean, even down to hair being perfectly combed. There will be a special place in my hear forever for my first date to a piano concert. I loved that man as did my children, even the young ones wept today as good byes were said.

John L. Rochelle

John L. Rochelle, a witness to 90 years of local history, passed away on February 2, 2013.

Now days in Madison County, it's a rare thing for someone to be born, grow-up, and live to a ripe old age before dying on the farm he was raised on. John L. Rochelle was born on the Rochelle farm in December of 1921 to Nelle & Lucas Rochelle. Mrs. Nelle was exhausted after giving birth to her only child, a 13 pound baby boy.

John's life on the farm spanned 91 years, including the two years he served in the Navy during World War II.

Tiny glimpses of the local history that John witnessed during his 91 years include: He saw the dirt road near his house evolve from the Old Stage Rd to the Bolivar Rd, to the Old Bolivar Rd to Riverside Drive Extended, to Riverside Drive. He witnessed the horse & buggy days of transportation being replaced by automobiles; helping his parents separate milk & churn butter to put on the steam engine train in Medon as it headed toward Chicago during the Great Depression in the 1930s; stubborn mules being replaced with tractors, and steam engines being replaced with diesel locomotives; the days of catching the train in Medon for a ride to Jackson ending; herding cattle through downtown Jackson and across the original river channel on Riverside Drive and seeing a small steamboat on the east side of the old river channel's bridge; seeing an old cotton field evolve to what is currently the site of The Jackson Madison County General Hospital.

John's parents were active in helping people in the community. The polite, quiet, John L. followed their example and used his shop to repair neighbors, and/or friends' equipment. Most of the time a thank you was his reward.

John L. decided it was time to have posterity when most men have dropped the notion. At the age of 89, he made up his mind to adopt a son. He giggled a bit and said, "Oh, how people will talk." In April of 2011, he went to the court house and had a 200 pound son, John Eaton Rochelle. With his son came a daughter-in-law; 6 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren.

On February 2, 2013, he drew his last breath and left the farm, family and friends behind to meet his Savior, The Lord JESUS CHRIST. John is looking forward to seeing many of his old friends and family again. Life is grand! How sweet it is.

Visitation will from 12 noon until 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home. Followed by a graveside service at Hollywood Cemetery. Pallbearers: John E. Rochelle, Jacob Farrell, Michael Eaton, Brent Adamson, James Eaton and Robert Dilgard.

Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home, 731-424-2424

Published in The Jackson Sun from February 3 to February 4, 2013

A Teacher's Love

This past week was crazy busy for me and it seemed I got no sleep. On a side note, I also backed in to my moms car...go me, right? Well, one evening we decided to go to Jake's school's (Germantown Middle) basket ball game because it was play offs and near our house. The game was coming to an end and one of his students came crashing into the bleachers, Jake was quick to his feet to make sure the kid was okay. My mind reflected back to a couple months ago to the instance in Connecticut where teachers sacrificed their lives to protect their students and I was humbled at the concern my sweetheart had for the kids he taught and more humbled to know that the love he feels for our kids is much greater. 

Our Hulk

Both the boys love to put on these hulk hands and mask. This is a typical day at our house and I love it!

Catch up

I am a terrible blogger or maybe it is that my life is just crazy.  Christmas is my favorite time of year, I love the lights, the decorations, and the entire Christmas spirit. However this Christmas, I found myself a little more easily discouraged and some of that was caused by my own feelings in inadequacy. Jake and the kids seem to lift my spirits when I am down and sometimes just looking at my sweethearts, my heart swells with gratitude and joy. Even in my moments of despair, I know that I am blessed beyond measure. Our Christmas was fun filled. I finished Christmas shopping well before Christmas but the week before Jake wanted to buy Ginny a guitar but I was hesitant because of the price, she has not asked for one, and I can barely get her to practice the piano but we purchased one anyways. Jake reminded me that her time in our home could be over half over before she begins her adult life and he wants to be able to play with her. So I caved in but thought it necessary to purchase Aubree something else as well, so we bought her a kindle fire. After a morning of opening presents here, we ventured to Jackson but did not stay long into the evening because snow was headed our way. I love that we are able to see family on the holidays too. I am always sad when our breaks end, I get very spoiled to be able to enjoy Jake and the kids home together. The weather was nice that we were able to do various things, we spent my birthday at the zoo and it was perfect. There was hardly anyone there and we enjoyed each other.
As for work, I regret that I have not prepared myself for management. Initially when I began at FedEx, I only planned to be there a few year but it has now been over four years. Recently I discovered that managers starting pay is nice and maybe I should have ventured out and prepared for it, since I am still there and plan to be until Christopher goes to school. Sleep seemed more important so that I can be there for my kids.

The new year is here and I have one simple goal and that it to be kinder and see the good in others. One of my favorite memories this year is reading the scriptures the other night and as we read, giggles filled the air. We were loving being together as a family, maybe we were not intently studying the scriptures but we were sure having a good time. Oh, here is another cute thing. Jacob William brought a root beer to his dad and Jake said "yuck, this is gross" (of course, trying to not have to to share) but when Jacob William took a drink his response was "I love this stuff". 

Happy 5th Birthday Jacob William

This past week, our sweet boy turned 5 but sadly he was sick on his birthday. We had a party planned but had to cancel. He was also sick Christmas Day but we are do glad that he's doing better. We are even more glad that he is in our family. I feel especially grateful this year that I am blessed to be his mother. Some of his favorite things right now are: school, the avengers, transformers, pizza, candy, and playing outside. Jacob William loves to be outside.

Holiday fun

Jake spent a weekend with his dad on November 30th- December 1st in San Antonio to attend the Spurs game. While I am certain that he had fun, the kids and I began our holiday fun too. Jacob William, sang Santa in at his pre-school for the city of Bartlett,
 
we celebrated Eliah Reed's 1st birthday,
 
 
and went to the ward Christmas party.
 
The this past week we enjoyed the pre-school program, Ginny's 5th note performance, the girls signed Silent Night at the ward Christmas program, the cousin's gift exchange, and Ginny's DARE graduation. The holidays are busy but fun.

My daughters have also taught me two important lessons here in the last few days. Aubree and I were delivering a couple of meals and I told her how proud I was of her and that I loved her. She just said "mom, it is better to give than receive." Then last night after a fun time at the cousin's dinner party (dinner, sugar cookie decorating, craft time, new pjs' from Nana Eaton, and gifts from one another), we got home and went upstairs to Ginny's room. She, too, is a great kid but last night she informed Jake and I that "you guys get it all wrong". We are hitting the pre-teen stage and I really do hope that I get it right and am able to teach my babies all they need to know. I also want them to know that I love them beyond measure. My babies are my everything! (with Jake of course)

With a heavy heart

The past three days my heart has felt weighed down and heavy. Friday morning, I was preparing to run a few errands when a CNN report popped up on my phone about a Connecticut town that just experienced the unthinkable. An elementary school was attacked by a gunman and 26 people are now deceased. Among the 26, are 20 children and other school faculty members who died trying to protect their kids. Immediately, I wanted to be with my babies, so I carried lunch to the school and later returned for Ginny's 5th note (choir) performance. She did very well and her solo was perfect. I wanted so badly to take my girls out early Friday and not send them today (Monday) but I know that is not the solution. One can not comprehend what may have possessed that man that day to kill his mother and then raid and elementary school or even begin to understand why but one thing that I know is that God lives and those sweet, innocent babies are being encircled in the arms of the Savior. I can not even begin to imagine nor do I want to. This past weekend, my heart has turned to the parents, teachers, and staff. Adults died trying to save their kids. Being married to a teacher, I know that Jake would have done all within his power too. Weekly, I volunteer at the girls school and I can only imagine that as a parent I would have done all that I could have to gotten all the children to safety, not just my own. Each time that I turn on the news, mt heart breaks and tears flow down face. It is easy for people to point fingers and say more security in schools, more gun control, etc. but the reality is that neither of those things are the solution, if a crazy wants, he will get in and if he wants a gun, he will get a gun. What needs to happen is we need to rally around those families, extend love and heartfelt prayers, listen to the heroic stories, and treat our teachers a little better. Teachers are with our babies eight hours a day, five days a week, and we know now from experience that a teacher will truly take a bullet to save our children.